Explaining the Will to Kill

Higgins O’BrienSpring 2012

The Devil Made Me Do It Early explanations for crime were

supernatural or spiritual -Demons, evil spirits, and witches Wasn't until mid-18th century that

classical school of thought came about, the idea of “free will”

Current approaches to violence come from scientific criminological theories

Back to the Classics Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham laid

the groundwork for “classical criminology” States that crime is a rational choice made

by the offender, who has free will to decide -Weigh the pros and cons of the situation, risk/reward Also believed that different offenses

warranted different punishments

Critics of classical criminology argue that most crime is irrational

Using Science to Explain Violence “Positivism” using scientific observation and

measurement to explain criminal behavior Shifts away from rational choice towards

determinism External factors cause crime -Biological -Psychological -Sociological

It is difficult to create an all encompassing theory, explaining crime is a “soft science”.

Biology Then and Now Early biological theory focused on body type,

heredity, and intelligence -Physiognomy: Study of facial features -Phrenology: Study of bumps on the head Cesare Lombroso studied Italian prisoners,

and believed certain physical features linked to crime

-His research was discredited, but was influential In the 1940's and 50's more body type and

physique study was done in the United States -Males with XYY chromosomes were believed to be linked with

crime, later proved false

Biology Continued Biological explanations for crime were

considered taboo for many years Advances in technology and brain scans have

brought the topic up again in recent years Rising rates of medication to deal with

childhood disorders are bringing focus to brain development

Thrill seeking, impulsivity, and negative temperament can lead to violence

Levels of testosterone, cortisol, adrenalin

Psychological Causes of Violence Early childhood could play role in antisocial

behavior Abuse or neglect can make it difficult to

develop bonds with other human beings -Psychopathy -Sociopathy -Antisocial personality disorder (APD) The field of ethology believes aggression and

violence is simply part of animal nature Instrumental Aggression- Violence as a means Expressive Aggression- Violence for its own

sake

Psychology Continued Some believe aggressive behavior is a way

to relieve boredom or stress Daly and Wilson believe we are still

influenced by ancient roots (dominance, infidelity)

Difficult to determine “violent personality” -Many aggressive and disadvantaged people, not everyone

becomes a criminal Some believe mental illness is correlated

with violence or substance abuse

Psychology Continued Paraphilia- sexual attraction to unusual or

bizarre objects, oftentimes individuals have more than one

Not all are linked to murder, but some (necrophilia, pedophilia) necessitate criminal behavior

Low intelligence and its link to crime is a controversial but continuing topic

Difficult to gauge IQ through tests

The Social Sources of Murder Characteristics of the neighborhood,

poverty, subcultural values, learning, social bonds and their relation to crime.

Social Disorganization Theory: weak communities have higher crime rates (Broken Windows)

Income equality has further distanced the very rich from the very poor

Strain, Frustration, and Murder Frustration Aggression: failure to achieve goals

can lead to strain and criminal behavior Being dumped, losing a job, and school troubles

can all lead to stress, and some react with violence

Robert Agnew's “General Strain Theory” -Presence of negative stimuli (abuse, rejection) -Removal of positive stimuli (loss of a loved one, house) -Relative deprivation (peers are better off) -Failure to achieve goals (missing out on success) Some believe the economy is linked with crime

rates

Cultural Deviance Subcultural Theories: believe criminals

are simply obeying the norms they were taught

Have a different belief in what is right and wrong than the law's definition

The “Subculture of Violence” present in the South or in urban environments makes fighting a norm

Homicide offenders have learned a set of values that promotes the use of violence

Learning to Kill Some believe offenders learn from one

another Social Learning Theory: aggressive behavior

contains skills that must be learned Role models are imitated Differential Association Theory: criminal

behavior learned in adolescence from peers, family, or friends

Data supports this for groups that reinforce violence and punish law abiding behavior

Self-Control, Social Control, and Murder Control theories believe it is the controls or

bonds that work to limit criminal behavior Attachment to institutions, beliefs, activities,

and groups. Individuals don't want to lose that.

Self control stems from parental love, supervision and discipline

Having “nothing to lose” can help explain why one would steal a candy bar, or even commit murder

A Word of Caution About Cause Every theory has limitations Correlation does not imply causation -Q: When ice cream sales increase, homicide rates increase.

Does this mean ice cream sales affect homicide? -A: No! Homicide increases in the hot summer months. Hot

summer months also increase ice cream sales. The two variables are not related.

Some theories explain only certain types of crime